New Mexico State Fair News:
The New Mexico State Fair announced the competitors for two of its most highly-anticipated contests, the Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge and the Unique Foods Contest.
The Unique Foods Contest is the ultimate celebration of Fair foods; sweet, salty, fried, smothered, you name it, this competition has it. Set to take place on opening day, Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Chevron Pavilion, you won’t want to miss this epic culinary throwdown. A panel of local media personalities will serve as judges.
Each vendor who enters their dish will ensure it is available to public purchase during the Fair:
- Item: Street Taco Grilled Cheese
Hand-diced and seasoned carne asada with fresh Monterey jack cheese and house-made green chile on sourdough, grilled to toasty perfection.
Concessionaire: Cheese Love Grill, Heritage and Main Street
- Conductor’s Corn Dog
A 100% all-beef Nathan’s ¼ lb hot dog hand-dipped in scratch-made, top-secret corn dog batter. Fried to a delicious golden brown before it’s split open and topped with cheddar cheese sauce, smoked bacon, fried cheese curd and Hatch green chile.
Concessionaire: Gravy Train, Food Court
- Deep Fried Carne Asada Taco
This taco is stuffed with fresh grilled carne asada and Monterey jack cheese. The taco is then dipped in a special batter and deep-fried to perfection. Served with homemade spicy salsa.
Concessionaire: Quesada’s Mexican, Heritage and Main Street
- Belgian Waffle Green Chile Cheeseburger
All beef patty grilled to perfection served on a Belgian waffle garnished with pickle, lettuce and tomato. The sandwich is then drizzled with green chile maple syrup and dusted with powdered sugar.
Concessionaire: Rex’s, South of Natural Resources Building
- Desert Chimichanga
Sweet chimichanga made with a flour tortilla and filled with cream cheese wrapped in smoked bacon, deep fried to a golden brown and smothered in cinnamon sugar, strawberry and chocolate sauce.
Concessionaire: Fried Fantasy, Food Court
“If you love Fair Food this is the contest for you,” State Fair General Manager Dan Mourning said. “You want wacky, crazy food, we got wacky, crazy, yet always delicious, food right here at the New Mexico State Fair and every item in this competition will be available to purchase throughout the run of the Fair.”
On Main Street just north of Heritage Avenue. at noon Monday, Sept. 9, the Original Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge, sponsored by the New Mexico Gas Company, features 10 restaurants from across the State who will throw down for the coveted title of New Mexico State Fair Champion:
- Downshift Brewing Co. – Lincoln County
- Del’s Family Restaurant – Quay County
- Effingbar & Grill – Bernalillo County
- Savoy Bar and Grill – Bernalillo County
- Craft Republic – Bernalillo County
- Big Mike’s Burgers and More – Valencia County
- Sparky’s Burgers, BBQ & Espresso – Dona Ana County
- Isleta Grill – Isleta Pueblo
- Grill at the Monte Carlo – Taos County
- Slate Street Billiards – Sandoval County
“This is the Super Bowl of Green Chile Cheeseburger contests in this State,” Mourning said. “It continues to get bigger and bigger each year so we decided to move it out to Main Street to accommodate the huge crowds that flock to this event. People’s choice ballots are extremely limited so make sure you’re here early!”
The 10 restaurants will compete for two awards, the blind judging and people’s choice awards. Hungry fairgoers hoping to get a taste of the best burgers in the state will have a chance to land one out of 100 highly sought-after people’s choice ballots.
To receive a ballot, New Mexico State Police will distribute wristbands randomly throughout the crowd which can then be taken to the burgundy tents outside the Ag Building where the New Mexico Department of Agriculture will provide a ballot. Participants must have a wristband to receive a ballot.
The 2024 New Mexico State Fair is scheduled from Sept. 5-15, 2024. The State Fair promises to be an incredible event, highlighting the culture, agriculture, art and beauty of New Mexico, including top quality music and entertainment. Visit statefair.exponm.com to purchase your tickets today including park and ride an